Missing in Action Double Feature - Missing in Action (1984) + Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985)

Director: Joseph Zito

Cast: Chuck Norris, M. Emmet Walsh, James Hong, Lenore Kasdorf

Country: United States

Rating: R

Run Time: 100 min

Missing in Action is a fairly solid, albeit clunky and cheap, attempt by Cannon Pictures at a Rambo picture. Famed Cannon Pictures producers, Menaham Golan and Yoram Globus, had gotten a peak at James Cameron's script for the eventual Rambo: First Blood Part II while it was floating around studios. Therefore, the two decided to film not one, but two films inspired by the script, concurrently with one another. Although Missing in Action is a blatant Rambo rip-off, it technically came out before First Blood Part II, thereby making it legally not a rip-off. Regardless, Missing in Action is the B-grade rendition of George P. Cosmatos and Sylvester Stallone's Vietnam film, with B-grade replacements such as director Joseph Zito (Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter) and Chuck Norris (The Way of the Dragon). The two would eventually go on to collaborate with Invasion U.S.A., a ridiculously offensive (but awesome) film against the Russians. However, the two's xenophobic rampage against American's enemies started here with Missing in Action, a Cannon classic with a rather serious tone. While a definite far cry from First Blood Part II, Missing in Action offers up the kind of low grade action entertainment that B-movie hounds love, courtesy of Golan's low budget proceedings and Norris' grizzled beard.

The film opens with a dream sequence in which Colonel James Braddock (Chuck Norris) remembers the horrors of the Vietnam War. When he scores the opportunity to go with a team to Vietnam in order to investigate whether or not American M.I.A.'s are still being held there, Braddock takes matters into his own hands by searching the country on his own time. He eventually teams up with Tuck (M. Emmett Walsh), an old friend of his, and sets off into the jungle to wage a one man war against the Vietnamese and rescue any Americans who may still be out there.

The first chapter in the Missing in Action saga was originally envisioned as the second chapter. After shooting two films back to back, Golan and Globus decided that their second picture offered up the action packed excitement that would ensure them box office dollars. Therefore, they turned the originally envisioned second film into the first film, and the originally envisioned first film into the eventual prequel, Missing in Action 2: The Beginning. While that strategy sounds like suicidal storytelling, the plan paid off, as Missing in Action swept up the box office, scoring $22 million off of a $1.5 million budget. It still stands as Norris' highest earning vehicle to date, as well as one of Cannon Pictures' highest earners. Both Missing in Action and Rambo: First Blood Part II's box office receipts prove that Americans were eager to bask in the fantastical revenge that the films offered.

Don't mess with the Braddock.

Braddock is a pretty solid franchise character, especially for one played by Chuck Norris. He knows how to negotiate a deal with people, has an awesome beard, and puts everything on the line simply to save a few American soldiers. Most solo 'Men on a Mission/One Man Army' films, especially the ones set in Vietnam, typically don't resonate with me because they are fairly gross and redundant. Thankfully, Missing in Action shakes up the formula a bit by incorporating some variety, as Braddock investigates as to where the U.S. soldiers are being kept while fighting off assassins in urban locations. He doesn't gun down Vietnamese soldiers in the jungle until the very end, which is essentially all First Blood Part II was.

From an action stand point, Missing in Action is exactly what you would expect from a Cannon production. The fist fights and shootouts are always entertaining, but mostly clunky and cheap in the classic Cannon mold. Although I declared the film a weak action picture due to its poor direction, I wouldn't be surprised if Zito was given the bare minimum of a budget and time to prepare the film's plentiful action sequences. After all, he is the same director who blew my mind with 1989's Red Scorpion, a highly underrated Dolph Lundgren picture that makes his Cannon work look like child's play. 

Although Missing in Action is nothing but predictable, the film surprised me by building up to an extremely dramatic and satisfying finale that could have made up for the weaker elements of the film. Unfortunately, the film ends on a freeze frame and brings all dramatic momentum to a halt. If the ending had been allowed to play out in a satisfying and pleasing manner, than Missing in Action easily could have scored another point on its rating scale. However, Cannon does what Cannon wants, and Missing in Action is nothing more than an entertaining, but rushed, take on the Rambo formula.

Rating: 5/10 - Norris' fair acting abilities and Zito's weak direction hold Missing in Action back from being as good as Rambo: First Blood Part II, the creme de la creme of the Vietnam 'One Man Army' films.

Director: Lance Hool

Cast: Chuck Norris, Soon-Tek Oh, Steven Williams, Bennett Ohta

Country: United States

Rating: R

Run Time: 95 min

Believe it or not, Missing in Action 2: The Beginning, is a far superior action/thriller in every regard when stacked up against its predecessor. Although I understand why Cannon went with the first film, as it featured far more action and could guarantee box office dollars, the "prequel" is a vastly better film. Instead of being a solo "Man on a Mission/One Man Army" flick with nothing but routine action to offer, Missing in Action 2 is actually a decent prison film with memorable characters, solid action, and genuine tension. It's still as clunky as most of Cannon's efforts, but it might just be the very best B-Vietnam picture ever made, as well as one of the best examples of Norris' abilities as an actor.

It's prequel time, as Missing in Action 2 takes place in 1972 in North Vietnam. After Colonel Braddock (Chuck Norris) and several of his men attempt to rescue some American soldiers during a battle, their helicopter is shot down and the men taken prisoner. However, the men are not released after the war is declared over, as the cruel Colonel Yin (Soon-Tek Oh) decides to use them for manual labor. He also psychologically tortures them in an attempt to make Braddock himself confess to his war crimes against the Vietnamese. As with most prisoner of war stories, the Americans eventually escape and wage a war of vengeance against their captors in what makes for one of Cannon Group's most dramatically compelling films.

The Beginning is immediately better than the first film because it is a character driven prison film, and not just a senseless action picture with little attention to character or story. The prequel conjures up an immense amount of tension and suspense throughout, thereby making the eventual action all of the more satisfying and worthwhile once arrived upon. Viewers will find themselves immensely engrossed in the various prisoner characters because they will feel for their plights and hope for their escape. Confining the events of the entire film to once location was clearly a budgetary strategy, but it also makes the film far better, as it crafts a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere that makes the prequel an entirely different film altogether from its predecessor. You still get your xenophobic/jingoistic action and revenge, but it's far more satisfying and less ridiculous because of the drawn out build up to it all.

Cool Guys Don't Look at Explosions: The Beginning

The bulk of the tension in the prequel is based around Colonel Yin's pursuit to get Braddock to confess to his war crimes, which were referenced in the first film. As the film progresses, Yin religiously tortures and teases Braddock with various temptations and physical wounds. This psychological warfare between the two extends beyond politics and becomes down right personal at a point. Yin is truly a villain that you love to hate because he dominates nearly every scene of the film and stands as the ultimate tormentor to end all tormentors. However, Yin ultimately meets his match by dueling with Colonel Braddock, the most intensely American patriot you could find. If one can separate the politics from the matter, the crux of Missing in Action 2's tension makes for some great thematic conflict.

Norris is far better here in the sequel, as he shows a more vulnerable side to Braddock. He has to keep his mouth shut at times and swallow his pride. He even physically suffers, such as when he is hung upside down with a rat filled bag tied upon his head, in order to protect others. While Braddock may be far from deep, his immense loyalty to his fellow men and soldiers makes him an admirable franchise character, and one made all the manlier and more badass thanks to Norris' portrayal of the guy. The prequel also has a solid supporting cast of players who are well used throughout, a key element missing in the first film.

The action is far better this go around mainly due to the build up and tension that precedes it all. Still, that clunky Cannon execution prevents it from being nearly as affective as it could have been, such as when a British spy is executed in a close up that quickly fades to black. Missing in Action 2 also finds a way to incorporate Norris' trademark martial arts abilities into a grounded and personal final fight that ultimately makes the film far more watchable and satisfying than the first. Thanks to the film's human touch and slow build up, I would compare the prequel to Cannon's own Death Wish 2, as both films take their time in building up to the action but also have the clunky silliness of a low budget B-picture. All in all, Missing in Action 2: The Beginning is a solid action thriller that stands as one of Cannon Group's very best productions, as well as one of Norris' most enjoyable action films.

Rating: 7/10 - Due to a surprising amount of tension and suspense, Missing in Action 2 stands tall as a recommendable B-Vietnam picture.

Red Scorpion (1989)

Version: Unrated Cut

Director: Joseph Zito

Cast: Dolph Lundgren, M. Emmett Walsh, Al White, Brion James, T. P. McKenna

Country: United States / South Africa

Red Scorpion is an action packed "one man army" film filled with sweaty Dolph Lundgren abs, gorey Tom Savini effects, and a body count that even John Rambo would be proud of. Directed by Joseph Zito, this excessive 80's film balances grand adventure with effective emotional beats as well. Dolph Lundgren's abs have never been bigger and his shorts have never been tighter. Read on to see how Dolph does in his own Dances With Wolves / Avatar type-story.

"I must break you."

Dolph Lundgren plays Soviet Spetsnaz Nikolai Petrovitch Radchenko (quite a mouthful). While in Africa with Soviet, Czech, and Cuban forces, Nikolai is sent on a mission to integrate into the African rebel forces and to kill their leader, Sundata. Along the way Nikolai makes friends with the hilarious Dewey Ferguson (M. Emmet Walsh), the noble Kallunda Kintash (Al White), and the silent Gau (Regopstaan). 

Much like Avatar and Dances With Wolves, Nikolai soon learns that he is working for the wrong side and ends up defecting to the African Rebels. Nikolai gets a scorpion tattoo, puts on some war paint, and wages an all out war on the Soviet forces in one of the best final shootouts I have ever seen.

This is officially the first Dolph Lundgren film that I have ever reviewed for the blog. For those who don't know, I consider Dolph to be one of the most notable action icons in all of American action cinema. However, I really feel that all of Dolph's films never quite strike that perfect cord with me the way that some of Arnold's or Stallone's do. While every action icon has their ups and downs, I feel that every Dolph film I have ever seen is either dreadful or sits somewhere in between disappointing and great. That is until I watched this unrated cut of Red Scorpion...

Rambo, eat your heart out.

Red Scorpion is easily the best Dolph Lundgren film I have ever seen. THIS is how you rip off something like Rambo: First Blood Part II or Rambo III and still make a solid and impressive low budget action film. Everything in this film just clicks together to create a definitive cult action film that is not ashamed of its inspirations (a truck chase through the desert is clearly taken from Raiders of the Lost Ark) or its over the top ness (Dolph hip firing LMG's). 

It's obvious that Red Scorpion takes many of its inspirations from the likes of Commando and Rambo III. Their heroes hip fire massive machine guns, show off their oily muscles, and throw on some war paint sometimes for good measure. Red Scorpion falls somewhere in between those two films. It has the serious drama of a Rambo film and the ridiculous "one many army" aspects of Commando. It also helps that the film doesn't scream that it is a clear rip off either. Even though you have seen elements of this film before, it still packs in a surprise or two or shakes up the elements enough to be a solid action film of its own. As far as the "one man army / man on a mission" sub-genre of action films goes, this is one of the very best and definitely the most underrated.

Dolph "The Stuntman" Lundgren.

The action scenes in this film are extremely impressive. After seeing some of Zito's previous Chuck Norris action efforts like Invasion U.S.A. and Missing In Action, I expected some low budget cheese, sloppy storytelling, and weak sound editing. Instead, Red Scorpion features very impressive stuntwork (by Dolph Lundgren himself in several scenes), a surprisingly emotional story, and one hell of an explosive soundtrack. One of the major deciding factors for why I love an action film is always the sound design and editing. Fortunately for an action fan like me, Red Scorpion features some first rate sound design. 

The film also does a good job at featuring a nice variety of action. I imagined that all of the action scenes would be straight shootouts. Instead, the film completely caught me off by guard by featuring a full blown car chase through the desert in the first 20 minutes. This scene is clearly a rip off of the famous car chase in Raiders of the Lost Ark but I loved every second of it. Its an extremely exciting scene.

The action scenes also benefit from some first rate gore effects by cult favorite Tom Savini. I am pretty sure this is the only action film I have ever seen that features Savini's trade mark gore effects. Even though most 80's action films feature the same type of bloody squibs, this film finds a way to sneak in some creative Savini-inspired gore.

Like shots like this.

The acting is pretty solid in this film too. Dolph Lundgren plays Dolph Lundgren, as usual. I don't mean to be rude to the guy but I feel that every character of his is essentially the same. It's fun to watch this film and think that Lundgren is essentially playing Ivan Drago again but after Rocky IV. I also enjoyed how the film chose to limit Lundgren's dialog. The character of Nikolai comes off as more realistic as he experiences a personal dilemma and culture clash when he is not blatantly describing what is happening to him.

All of the supporting cast are a blast too. M. Emmet Walsh is especially hilarious in this movie! I can't remember the last time an actor made cursing so funny, but Walsh sells it. He's a great character actor and I loved every second of him. Blade Runner's Brion James also pops up with bleach blonde eyes brows, ew.

It's also worth mentioning that this film pre-dates Dances With Wolves and yet contains that ever so popular storyline also found in Avatar. I am not sure where this story originated in film, but if anyone knows please let me know. I love reused plots like this and would love to get to the bottom of this one.

Would you believe that Dolph Lundgren is in another action film that also uses this plot? That's right! In 1994, Dolph Lundgren starred in Men of War, yet another action film where someone is sent to infiltrate a group and ends up joining their side instead. Men of War is much slower and drawn out than Red Scorpion though. I'd recommend the film only for die hard action fans. If you are craving action though, look up "Men of War Kill Count" on YouTube and get your small taste of the film there.

The Red Scorpion.

I'll keep this review short and sweet. Watch Red Scorpion uncut please. It's a blast, silly, and very entertaining. Dolph Lundgren and "one man army" films have never been better than they are right here. The film may suffer from some aged politics, much like Rambo III, but it makes up for it with its insanely high body count and varied action scenes. And Dolph's shorts.

Rating: 8/10 - Red Scorpion is highly recommended to all action fans. It's an extremely underrated film that deserves to see the light of day now that it has been released uncut on Blu Ray thanks to Synapse Films.

Best Kill / Beatdown: Dolph fills lots of bodies with lots of lead in this film. I could go with the originality of the Colonel's arm being blasted off with the grenade. However, the very final kill is so ridiculous but too good to spoil. Like I said, you've got to watch it.

Best Action Scene: The epic finale is just great. One of the best action scenes in all of American action cinema. 

Best Performance: M. Emett Walsh is too funny. I'm going with him.